The midweek battle with Millwall will have been a unique eye opener for Joao Carvalho and Gil Dias, as they find their feet in the Championship, says Aitor Karanka.

But the Nottingham Forest boss is happy that he has enough attacking options in his squad, beyond the Portuguese trio of Carvalho, Dias and Diogo Goncalves – who will sit out the final game of his ban this weekend – while they acclimatise to such new challenges.

The robust, physical contest with Neil Harris’ Lions will have been like nothing Carvalho and Dias have experienced before, in their short careers.

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“It is a positive boost for us, yes. Because in the moments after a game like this (against Millwall), having somebody like Hillal on the training pitch is good, because he is always happy,” said Karanka.